I have a 97 Jeep cherokee. I just replaced the shackle boxes with HD no lift shackles. AFter getting that done and after driving about a mile the volts will drop all the way down to 9 and the check gauges light comes on. The Jeep doesn't run bad or anything. I can turn it off and back on and the light is off but the volts stay right in the middle between 9 and 14. But after abotu a mile it continues to do the same thing. I tried this several times.
It has a new battery in the last year. I checked the wires connecting the battery and all seemed good. I also looked for any piinched wires. Any Ideas on what the issues is? Possible short somewhere? Or maybe bad alterantor?


pic of the meter when the check gauges light is on


How it looks before it drops.

 

The gauge worked good before the shackle install? Even before it drops it is low, should be just under 14, but you probably already know that.

Did you disconnect any grounds, ground out a hot from any of the rear lights. Do all the rear lights still work?

What kit did you use? i am thinking of doing the same thing.

 

All light work. I disconnected the power wire to let everything reset going to try again later. If not may clean all the wires to the alternator.

Its the hd no lift shackle relocation bracket. You cut the old box out (drivers side sucked). I bought lift shackles and the first hole didnt really lift the jeep like its suppose too. I had heard the box made the rear a little lower. The ride quality is way better. I will try posting a lic of shackle angle now

 

So went and let the jeep run and unhooked the battery. The jeep died immediately. Just want to confirm but that probably means my alternator is bad right? If so where is the best place to buy one that won't break the bank!

 

Dont do that, damage to the alternator can occur.

 

I would recommend pulling the alternator and having it load tested. Any autozone or local shop can do this for you.

 

Get a cheap digital multimeter (DMM). Set the meter on volts and set it to 20 volts (maximum range). Run the car and put the leads across the battery; red on positive, black on negative. If it reads over battery voltage of 12 volts (14 volts optimal) then its charging and not the alternator.

 

So I believe i found the issue. I was taking the alternator off to have it checked and the power wire broke off. It appeared at some point it was burned up. While i had off I took it in to be tested and it appeared to be in good shape.



Now the new issue. The nuts that were holding the power wire on had been melted together basically. I was trying to get them off and the stud broke. Any ideas if you can put a new one in or how to make this work? It still has a few threads left on it.



I took the shield off so i could see the bottom of the stud. It isnt' a very good pic but that is the bottom of it.